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Lifestyle Suggestions--Page 3 |
Suggestions:
1. A long feather duster to dusk high places such as ceiling fans and ceilings.
2. Wear good supportive tennis shoes when mopping to keep from slipping and falling!
3. Heating pad to neck and shoulder, head and legs for pain.
4. Take some cream for your face and feet.
5. Massage therapy/ craniosacral therapy (light touch therapy).
6. Going outside for a walk, and get some Vitamin D.
7. Being around loved ones and positive thinking individuals helps me emotionally.
8. Cervical collar to neck.
9. Good posture, especially when sitting in front of computer.
10. Drinking lots of water to flush out toxins and is good for body.
11. Less-strenuous forms of exercising such as walking and exercise bike.
12. Getting a good night sleep.
13. Taking Melatonin when you can't sleep; may take 1-2 months to take affect. (Check with your doctor.
14. Watching funny movies and favorite ones with loved ones.
15. Spreading out house cleaning over a week's time.
16. Rest when needed!
17. Sleep with a good memory foam pillow one that is firm but not too firm, and will support your head and neck.
18. Take your medicine as soon as you feel the pain coming on to avoid more intense pain later on that day.
19. Don't eat chocolate or drink too much caffeine if they give you a bad headache (and any other foods you notice).
20. Do doorway stretches for your neck and shoulders.
21. Women- get your toenails painted by someone else if possible, because the constant looking down, strains your neck
and will make it hurt (at least it does mine).
22. Tell hospitals, all your Dr.'s and medics of the rods and plates in your spine if you have them.
23. Get a medical ID badge that says Do Not Hyperextend Neck; research it on the group (someone posted a message about
the medical alert ID's and what to include).
24. I use a planner. A big one that I write what I am scheduled to do and what I have done. I fly A LOT, so use a rolled up
towel behind my neck to reduce the movement of my head when there is turbulence to support my neck. The planner/calendar is a
big one for me.
25. Do WATER aerobics and that actually works very well and it will not hurt you.
26. In everyday life, I have a step ladder at home to get into cabinets because I can't look up very far without seeing stars
or feeling a lot of pain.
27. I have a soft, flat pillow in my car that I always use
behind my back when I am driving. I also keep an extra one in the trunk in case I have
time to rest in the car. The extra pillow allows me to rest even more comfortably.
28. I keep a container of medicine in a hidden place in my
car in case I forgot to take it at home. That avoids
having to go home just to take my medicine.
29. I almost always use the electric stroller at the
grocery store. It helps to avoid pushing a heavy cart
which exasperates my symptoms.
30. I always ask the grocery store baggers to help me lift
the groceries into my car. Every little bit helps.
31. I change my pillows every 6 months. I find that they
get as hard as rocks and hurt my head if I keep them
around too long.
32. I always take pillows on trips. Motels never have
soft pillows and certainly not enough of them. We
take an extra suitcase crammed full of pillows.
33. I try to get some exercise in my shoulders and back,
and like to do that in the shower. Let the warm water
warm your muscles, then do shoulder rotations, and arm
lifts and rotations while in the shower. It gets the
juices flowing and the warm water helps to limber up
the muscle cramps.
34. To help with sight distance that is limited with
craniocervical fusion, my husband installed small
circular mirrors on each side mirror which takes away
the blind spots and enables me to see in the sides and
rear without turning my neck very much.
35. I find that eliminating sugar from my diet keeps my
inflammation in my muscles down a great deal. A
nutritional diet makes me feel so much better all
around.
36. When I go to sleep, I am able to fall asleep in 5
minutes if I have earphones in and either a book on
tape, or soft music or even scriptures being read via
a CD player or laptop. This alone has been so helpful
to me to get to sleep quickly and relax much more
easily.
37. Use small earbuds that fall out when you fall asleep
without hurting anything.
38. Allow other people to help you when they offer. I
used to be too proud to do this, but found out that
many times people really like to help those who need
it. It allows them to be blessed by helping you, all
the while helping you immensely.
39. Don't forget to register with MedicAlert. I have
their decal on the driver's side of our van. That way
even if I don't have my bracelet, someone may be
alerted to my special needs.
40. If you go to a public event or park that has electric
strollers, rent it at the beginning of the day. If
you wait until your legs get tired, they will probably
be all gone.
41. If you get uptight or afraid about some difficult
symptoms, try to think of something very peaceful and
calm. I do this by memorizing scriptures from the
Bible that are very encouraging that I replay in my
mind. I also like to put myself back on a raft in the
Caribbean Sea at the Cayman Islands where I lived many
years ago. Just the tranquility and calmness helps to
relax me and helps me deal with my symptoms.
42. When I have a headache I push around on my head till I feel an area of where I apply the (gentle )pushing of my finger
tips and I feel some relief, then hold my hand there and keep it there with some slight massage till it seems to give relief.
43. I eat small meals through the day it helps with the full feeling and nausea. I get only slight nausea myself not bad, like
some, but I think and find (small amounts of food at a time), very helpful along with good choice of food.
44. Many Chiari sufferers seem to have lots of hand pain. My father has Lupus and I have EDS. We both have a tremendous amount
of hand pain. I found spinner balls at JC Penney.com and they are invaluable! We have one on every vehicle and they are a life
saver. We were told they were illegal but I checked it out and they aren't.
Remember: There is no "right" pillow for everyone. However finding what is "right" for you is IMPORTANT. It can
make HUGE differences, and definitely work trying a few different types.
Things that help with cognitive issues:
1. My decompression surgery improved my cognitive by
leaps and bounds. Prior to my surgery, I was so bad
that I couldn't even remember my husband's cell phone
number.
2. I find that if I say a person's name out loud a few
times that I am speaking with them, I remember the
name better.
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